Prime Minister Theresa May has been blasted by all opposition parties after admitting that the Tories are preparing for a ‘no deal’ Brexit, and warning the British public to prepare for the worst Brexit outcome possible. After a volatile six months of negotiations with the European Union, it appears that not much progress has been made. Even after May’s speech in Florence, which was seen as an act of goodwill towards European negotiators, the chances of reaching a beneficial deal for Britain with an undemocratic and uncompromising European Union appear to remain slim.
May set out plans to “minimise disruption” when Britain officially leaves the European Union in 2019, and said that this involves preparing “for every eventuality”. She told the House of Commons that:
“What I believe it is profoundly in all our interests for the negotiations to succeed, it is also our responsibility as a Government to prepare for every eventuality, so that is exactly what we are doing. These white papers also support that work, including setting out steps to minimise disruption for businesses and travellers.”
Chances of no deal? What I'm told;
David Davis privately, 10%
Cabinet minister who campaigned Remain, 40%
Another who campaigned Brexit, 50% https://t.co/YT9e0Gt5kX— Tom Newton Dunn (@tnewtondunn) October 9, 2017
MPs from her own party were quick to attack the Prime Minister’s speech to the Commons, with ardent Remainer Anna Soubry tweeting that “people did not vote for a no-deal hard Brexit.”
People did not vote for a no deal hard #Brexit. Negotiations to achieve a deal must continue during transitional period.
— Anna Soubry (@Anna_Soubry) October 9, 2017
It’s safe to say that Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was not impressed in the slightest. He savaged the Prime Minister’s Brexit plan by asking how many of her original objectives she has actually reached. While mocking the state of negotiations with the European Union, Corbyn said:
“Fifteen months on from the referendum, we are still no clearer what the future of this country will look like.”
And that:
“If things don’t improve, the reality may soon begin to bite for the jobs and living standards of the people of this country.”
"Fifteen months on from the referendum, we are still no clearer what the future of this country will look like," says @JeremyCorbyn #Brexit pic.twitter.com/R0U9c68nRl
— Sky News (@SkyNews) October 9, 2017
No deal is the worst of all situations. A strong govt would not be in this position. Tory divisions risk driving us all off a cliff edge. https://t.co/6dnQT2Jq6L
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) October 9, 2017
This is another blow for Theresa May, who is already under huge pressure after her car-crash speech at the Conservative Party conference last week, with Tory MPs already circling like hawks in preparation for a leadership contest in the near future. With no real progress made with the European Union, huge internal strife and a truly unique level of ineptitude, it’s no wonder that Jeremy Corbyn and Labour are currently ahead in the polls. It is becoming clear to the country that this shambolic Conservative government are not capable of getting a good Brexit deal – and their claims to the contrary are nothing but bravado and spin.
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